Recycled Pallets

Recycled pallets being stacked by our customer for pick up in Dayton, OHDayton Pallet provides a wide range of recycled wooden pallets as a cost-effective alternative to brand new pallets. We assure our clients that every pallet is carefully-selected, inspected, and processed to meet the industry’s strict standards of good pallets. For our customer’s convenience, we can custom the size of the recycled pallets we have in case we don’t have stocks of their desired size. Further, we also offer Heat Treat services for pallets that require federal export compliance. 

 

Definition

A remanufactured pallet is a pallet that has been previously used that may have come from deck boards when shipping a variety of products. A lot of pallets we have in the market have been refurbished or reused. There are plenty of reasons why the use of recycled pallets is getting more attention nowadays. We will discuss some of its characteristics, benefits, and its disadvantages as compared to using brand new pallets. 

 

Characteristics

Capacity- Remanufactured pallets can carry up to 3,000 pounds. The extent of its capacity is greatly affected by how the product is distributed on the pallet. If the items are evenly situated on the pallet, then it can hold more weight. But, if the products are clustered in one area, then you can’t expect the pallet to be as durable as the other one. 

Classification- Majority of companies classify recycled pallets using three essential qualities: dimension, number of stringers, and amount of repairs on the stringer. Other companies may also identify pallets based on their durability. We use the standard terminology of #1 Grade, #2 Grade to determine the classification of pallets in the industry. Some manufacturing companies use “A Grade” and “B Grade” to refer to their pallets. 

 

Advantages

Reduced moisture- Recycled pallets are less moist compared to new pallets because they have more time to dry. A new pallet usually contains 25% of moisture while a recycled pallet holds 15% of moisture content. It means there is less chance for moisture to stick to the packaging of the product placed on the pallet, which can cause damage to it. Further, since remanufactured pallets are relatively dry, they are less vulnerable to mold. 

Pricing- Refurbished pallets are way more cost-efficient compared to new pallets available in the market. On average, the cost of recycled pallets falls at 40 to 60 percent of the total cost of brand new ones. 

 

Disadvantages

Inconsistent quality- Recycled pallets are gathered from different areas the chance of getting inconsistent quality in deck board diameter or spacing, or having nails that are not entirely removed from the deck boards is high. Moreover, it is difficult to track where each pallet came from. This information may not be that important for some, heavily-regulated industries require a clean history of pallets. 

Limited supply- Although recycled pallets are getting more attention by the day, it can still be short in supply. This is because pallet recyclers can only manufacture pallets that they have repaired, which is heavily dependent on its availability on the market. 

 

Summary 

As a summary, a remanufactured pallet can hold a decent amount of pounds and will retain less moisture. While you may not exactly know where it originated from, recycled pallets get the job of carrying and transporting products from one point to another. 

 

Why Buy New Pallets

Picture of brand new skids built in our yard for Dayton, OHPurchasing new pallets have significant numbers of benefits than you can imagine. Maybe you have required your employees to work overtime to catch up on a load of orders that need to be accomplished. However, they still get behind of schedule, and on the day of delivery, the pallet shatters, and all the products are left scattered on the floor. Unfortunately, the delivery gets delayed, and you have an additional cost on the overtime payroll. What may have caused this trouble– because you weren’t using new pallets, but recycled ones. We have listed six reasons why new pallets are a better choice when transporting products from one place to another. 

 

Reason 1: Consistent Construction

You can never go wrong with the consistency of quality of new pallets. Every group of new pallets is manufactured under the same predetermined classifications. Consistency is one of the main requirements of a high standard, a heavy-regulated industry that manufactures new pallets. This level of consistency will not be the case for recycled pallet because it is hard to determine where they initially came from. While recycled pallets may have the same sizes in terms of dimension, their thickness will more likely come in different numbers. A recycled pallet comes from various companies, sorted out, and repaired while new pallets are made from a standard new soft or hardwood material that has the same board and stringer dimension and thickness. 

 

Reason 2: Virgin Quality

The simple definition of new pallets is pallets that have never been used before. Brand new pallets can stand up to 8-10 trips and is sturdier than a refurbished pallet that has been used for at least five times in delivery. Recycled pallets may still undergo damage or incur cracks even without apparent issues. These damages may not be visible beneath the stringers, but they can cause the pallet to go weak. When the pallet is full of products, the unthinkable can happen. By purchasing a new pallet, you can avoid this scenario from taking place. 

 

Reason 3: Availability

Using brand new pallets is more favorable in terms of availability. A company that recycles pallets depend on its supply in the market which may be scarce at times. They may not be able to provide the needed amount of pallet required to manufacture recycled ones. New pallets will not easily run out because lumber mills always have wood to manufacture. Buying brand new pallets will assure you of a constant flow of supply because they don’t depend on recycled pallets. While recycled pallets experience regular scarcity of supply, now and then, new pallets will secure a more efficient supply chain. Recycled pallets undergo challenges in terms of availability once every 4-5 years due to various factors, including import and export laws. This is very unlikely to happen with new pallet production. 

 

Reason 4: Unique Specification

You may be wondering if it is impossible for recycled pallets to be made into a custom specification. The answer to that is no. Recycled pallets can be manufactured to custom specifications, however, to a certain limitation. For instance, it is extremely difficult and even impossible for recyclers to build pallets with extra-large lengths and thickness. Recycled pallets often cannot produce products of these sizes. Most often than not, pallets that need deck boards that are more than 11/16″ thick require new wood materials. What other companies do is to buy both recycled and new materials to still save on cash. It is wise to consider the use of new pallets in your business to avoid getting a phone call from a recycler saying that they don’t have enough supply to cater to your demands. 

 

Reason 5: Strength

You may have seen a pallet with metal pieces on its side to hold it together. This is a typical scenario when using recycled pallets because they are not as durable as brand new pallets. Although this doesn’t entirely make recycled pallets unsafe, it is still undeniable that new pallets are more reliable and stronger, which means your products are safe and far from getting damaged. 

 

Reason 6: Cleanliness

If you want the assurance that a pallet has not been compromised in any manner, using a new pallet is the way to go. This is especially true if you are going to use the pallet for medical and food products. When you go for new pallets, the manufacturer can demonstrate how their pallets are made, and you can expect the same level of standard for each delivery. However, with recycled pallets, it is difficult and even impossible to trace its history, which can be an issue for safety standards inspection. 

For instance, a famous food company outsourced the service of an auditor to ensure the quality of pallets relative to safety and cleanliness. One of the main issues is that they couldn’t assure that the pallets are neat and were never kept outside in its entire life span because it is made from recycled materials. It is safe to assume that they were placed outside one time throughout their existence. Purchasing new pallets may have caused them more money, but investing in it solved every safety and quality issues they faced. 

 

Disadvantage

One of the disadvantages of new pallets is its pricing. New pallets are more expensive because of the materials used to produce them. Nevertheless, using new pallets which typically costs 30-50% more than recycled pallets are worth it and can give you an assurance that they will not let you down in terms of inspections done by OSHA, AIB, FDA. 

Pallet Shipping Costs

Pallet staced with boxes being ready to be shipped from a customer in Dayton, OHWhether we like or not, pallet shipping cost is something that most buyers would want to eliminate or at least, reduce. However, the cost of shipping is continuously rising due to different variables, including fuel prices, logistics laws, and development of transportation. 

Take heart! We have come up with practical advice to help customers like you to save on pallet shipping costs and maximize their money to their advantage. 

 

Cutting Pallet Shipping Charges

Some of the key variables that affect the total shipping charge include the following:

  • Pallet Location
  • Pallet Specifications
  • Pallet Order Quantity
  • Shipping Timing
  • Delivery Location
  • Shippers

 

Pallet Location

Where your pallets come from is crucial in determining the final shipping cost. It follows that the farther the pallets originate, the more expensive it gets. 

Pro Tip: Go for a local pallet supplier because it can significantly reduce the cost of shipping.

 

Pallet Specifications

Pallets that are lighter and smaller allow more units to be piled into the truck, which means you pay less. When more pallets are loaded in the delivery, then each pallet will account for a lower cost. 

Pro Tip: Use smaller and lighter pallets for shipping to reduce the required number of carriers, hence less cost of shipping.  

 

Pallet Order Quantity

The more pallets you ship, the smaller shipping cost you need to pay per unit. It will make a significant difference if you adjust your pallet order when it comes to the cost of shipping. The cost of your “per unit” shipping can drop to $1.25 if you order 100 pallets that cost $2.50 per pallet if you increase your order to 200 pallets. 

Pro Tip: Find the most favorable number of pallets to maximize your “per unit” delivery charges. 

 

Shipping Service Level/ Timing

If you need the pallets to be delivered in a rush, expect the cost to drive up. This is especially true when the shipping company needs to pick up and deliver a small order.

Pro Tip: Do not forget to keep track of your inventory and make your orders before you run out of supply. You can save a significant amount of money if you follow the standard time of delivery, which is 3-5 business days. 

 

Delivery Location

One apparent factor that affects pallet shipping cost is the location. If your delivery location is far from the origin of the pallet, this will automatically increase the cost shipping. 

 

Loading Dock

You will require a liftgate service from the courier if there is no loading dock available. If you can unload the pallets on your own, you can save on the liftgate services cost. Liftgates typically add $50 to the total shipping fees. If the pallets need to be delivered using a flatbed, the cost of shipping goes up. 

 

Be Your Shipper 

You can save on shipping cost if you have your own trucks and deliver them on your own. This is ideal if you are near to the origin of the pallet and pick them up on your own.

Pro Tip: You may get a discount with a shipping company which you have an account with, especially if you use them for several delivery projects.